Sad Story...But Very Good FYI

[Mr Bigglesworth]

On Oahu there are 2 primary LFS...Modern Pet Center and Coral Fish Hawaii. I have previously been purchasing fish from both locations. I know with my 20 Gallon setup and even my 75 Gallon I have been having trouble with some of my fish dying...and I didn't know what was happening. I thought I was losing fish from both stores so I kept an inventory of my fish that survived and my fish that died...and I found a serious trend. ALL the dead fish came from Coral Fish Hawaii...and not even one came from Modern Pet Center.

This prompted me to investigate. I talked to the people at Coral Fish Hawaii and found out that they use CYANIDE to catch their fish!!!! I was shocked. They said that their wholeseller and them (when they go out) use Cyanide to feed the fish...then when they are stunned...they catch them to sell.

I did some more research and found out that Cyanide does not directly kill the fish but it basically MELTS the LIVER!!! I noticed that a lot of my fish from Coral Fish Hawaii died in quarantine before even putting them into the tank. That is because I use Furazone Green to treat my fish before introducing them into my reef.

More over...I found out that several places RECOMMEND using Cyanide to catch fish...even distributors of Hawaiian fish to the mainland. So be CAREFUL.

So lesson learned...be careful where you buy fish. And I am NEVER buying a fish from Coral Fish Hawaii again.

[Travis]

That's bad :cry: there should be laws against such hideous acts.

[creepingdeath086]

if we want a law so bad, write a letter to your state representitives and other organizations that care, and get some signatures, and see what that accomplishes, i live in a small state called delaware, and here you could complain till no end about how polluted our rivers are and no on would care, that cyanide thing is not cool, spies used that to kill themselves, i am surprised that it doesnt kill the fish right away, but ya you are right definately not cool :(

[Mels95yj]

In "The Conciensious Marine Aquarist", he talks about collectors using cyanide for collecting fish. There's a picture of about 30-40 dead fish laying on the reef that was poisoned from cyanide. He states that even if the fish survives, it will never be as healthy as it could've been. It's sad, but I guess it boils down to $$$ for the collectors.

Mel

[Mr Bigglesworth]

I think it is just SICK that people do that to fish...Ive heard that it also damages the reef because uneaten food from the fish get eaten by inverts and absorbed by corals and anemones.

You know...as a matter of fact...I will write my congressman about this. I think they should ban cyanide poisoning to catch fish.

[mellowtakumi]

hello,

i hope it is not some sort of uninformed employee from coral fish. talk to randy, he is the owner. but better yet write to congressman :)..

i am having a greater understanding as to why my flames have died as well from cfhawaii, but i dunno if they use it on yellow tangs..

maybe they are exception as they are in the waters, i had one and it was the best, i have bought a royal gamma a few months back and it is still alive (thank god) ... i've also bought tank bred percs, and the one i had lasted 3 years b4 i died, but that's due to a trip.

so far, firefish and royal gamma both from coral fish, and they are alive. firefish being 3-4 months, and royal gamma about 2 month or so

i've asked the guy at modern, he told me the damsels were cynaide caught.

i think they should ban drugs, explosives, and other destructive ways of catching fish.

it is hard to guarantee anything, but i feel i can open a LFS and provide competition in the saltwater market. i just don't have the resources, but i feel it can out do modern, and coralfish especially.

there really isn't much supply for Saltwater fish, and if another opens i think it'll be good, modern and coral fish is owning us... expensive jacked up price..

[Mr Bigglesworth]

I actually got that information from Coral Fish's wholeseller who uses the Cyanide. He assured me that Cyanide does not harm fish in any way, but other reports have said otherwise.

First of all, I believe that tank-bred fish from there should be alright...since they aren't exposed to the Cyanide...

And second of all, 3-4 months doesnt prove that the fish is in good condition. Liver damage could still be happening...just more slowly than other fish.

[mellowtakumi]

i mean it's too late right? i duno what reports or tests will say.. so what can validate the fish of cynaide poisoning? is there a mark sort of speak, that if it survive x amount of months, it will be fine.

i just do what i do i guess.... i am not trying to prove something, but merely just stating my opinions and ideas, and experience. i sure hope that the fishes don't die. i don't intend to use them as experiments as well, but merely for the fish for what it is.

it brings character..they are apart of my tank, i intend and ensure all means of keeping them healthy feeding them, etc...

[spookeyfish]

I found this though google i didn't write it.


Live reef food fish trade
In upscale restaurants across Southeast Asia, diners can feast on live reef fish for up to US$100 per kg. In 2000, Hong Kong alone imported an estimated 17,000 tonnes of live food fish. Typical wholesale prices for these species range from US$11 to US$63 per kilogram, bringing the value of the industry to approximately US$400 million for Hong Kong. Many live reef food fish on the Hong Kong market are cultured, and poisons are not used to capture live fish in Australia and most of the Pacific. However, in other parts of Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and Vietnam, cyanide is widely used to capture both live reef food and aquarium fish.[2]

A 1998 global assessment of the status of some 200 fisheries around the world concluded that the live reef fishery of Southeast Asia is one of the most threatened fisheries on the planet.[3]

Ornamental and aquarium trade
The trade in marine ornamentals began modestly in the Philippines in 1957, but it has since grown into an international multimillion dollar business. In 1998 and 1999, Southeast Asia contributed some 36 percent of the global trade in hard corals, with Vietnam alone contributing 25 percent.[4] The global wholesale value of the ornamental fish market was US$963 million in 1996, making this industry a key source of commerce for fishers in Southeast Asia.[5] Between 1996 and 1999, the share of the U.S. ornamental fish market coming from Southeast Asia increased from 67 to 78 percent.[6] The United States is by far the largest consumer, importing about 60 percent of all marine ornamental fish and 70--90 percent of all live coral worldwide.[7]

although the aquarium trade is high-value in some areas, it is unsustainable as currently practiced. Cyanide fishing remains the predominant technique for fish capture in most Southeast Asian countries. The economic benefits for fishers are minimal. In the Philippines, for example, fishers who supply the aquarium trade typically earn only about US$50 per month.[8] Less destructive techniques such as net capture are on the rise as a result of retraining efforts, but they have not yet overtaken cyanide fishing as the practice of choice. The Marine Aquarium Council (MAC), a nonprofit organization, is working to unite industry, hobbyists, environmentalists, and governments to create a set of core standards that can be used to certify businesses that uphold best practices.[9]


There are people who are trying to stop cyanide from being used but it is the cheapest way so it use the most. If you want to help write your congressman or contact the The Marine Aquarium Council (MAC), And i thing it is unbelivable that we try and take care of these fish witch is not easy or cheap and they sell us the poor fish that was captured w/ Cyanide.